Lagos urges port operators to pay landing fees

The Lagos State government has appealed to cargo dealers and other operators in Apapa Wharf to be diligent in paying landing fees. While addressing the stakeholders at a meeting yesterday, Chairman, Wharf Landing Fee Collecting Authority, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, lamented that some operators have refused to make payment despite repeated appeals.

He, however, said that the purpose of the meeting was to encourage defaulters to ensure compliance “before the state applies necessary measures.”While appreciating those that have complied, Igbokwe said the state government and the local councils around the ports are in dire need of support and encouragement at a time like this when the need to look inwards has become imperative.

According to him: “We do not think N1000 for 40ft container and N500 for 20ft container is too much for the owners to pay government. “Again, cars are meant to pay just N300 while Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV) are to pay N500. But in most cases, the drivers in custody of these cars refuse to pay, especially at PTML bonded terminal at Otto Wolf, Mile 2 and elsewhere.

“We do not think that N1,000 is too much to pay for 33,000 litres of wet products, which is about three kobo per litre. Yes, some wet cargo companies have been paying for AGO, DPK and others but have resisted that of PMS even when there is partial deregulation in place.”

He added that the same operators that refused to pay the state government three kobo per litre on PMS pay Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch (NUPENG) 20 kobo per litre, AGO 30 kobo per litre, DPK 30 kobo per litre, LPFO 30 kobo per litre, among others.Igbokwe, therefore, wondered why such associations and unions, which are not responsible for provision of amenities, charge exorbitant fees, while government cannot collect a paltry N1,000 on a truck-laden with 33,000 litres of fuel.